Post-hole digger



(No Model.) I

GIBBS. POST HOLE BIGGER.

No. 493,700. Patented Mar. 21,1893.

j NITED STATES PATENT Qrrrcn,

LEWIS GIBBS, OF CANTON, OHIO.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,700, dated March 21, 1893. Application filed June 3, 1892. Serial No. 85,439. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS GIBBS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Canton, county of Stark, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Post-Hole Diggers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in post hole diggers, and consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective of a post hole digger illustrating my invention, Fig. 2 a similar View of the parts by which the two blades are held in a hinged relation, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the inside of the blade, a handle, and the connecting bolts.

Preferably the blades A A are made of steel and shanks B B of malleable cast metal. In the shanks B B is provided a socket a to receive the lower end of the handles 0, said socket having a bottom or shoulderb on which the end of the handle rests, braces c support the bottom as shown. A semi-circularfiange d is projected downwardly from the shank to which the blade A is riveted under the out wardly projected shoulder e.

To hinge or pivotally secure the two blades and handles together as shown in Fig. 1, a hinge piece D is provided the upper portion of which is semi-circular in cross section to correspond with the circumference of the handle and form a part of the handle socket, and is secured to the handle and socket by the bolts f. At the lower end of thepartDis provided interlocking lugs 72., that form the hinge when secured in such relation by the bolt it, over and about which the handles may be vibrated to swing the blades toward each other.

In operation the handles are grasped by the hands, the blades struck into the ground, to the full length of the blades, cutting loose from the sides a core of earth the upper end of the handles are then swung apart a distance to swing the blades inward upon the core to raise it out, and when it is desired to use the blades as a shovel, the bolt 76 is removed to release the parts.

In post hole diggers the hinges by which the blades are held together, are put to great stress and wear, and are liable to be broken; one of the principal objects of my invention is to provide an inexpensive renewable hinge as shown which may be quickly removed and attached, which at the same time is strong and durable.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A post hole digger comprising opposing blades, extensions secured to said blades, hinged pieces forming in conjunction with said extensions handle sockets, and provided with lugs, handles in said sockets a pivot inserted through said lugs, and bolts for securing the hinge-pieces and extensions to the handles, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of May, A. D. 1892.

LEWIS GIBBS. Witnesses:

W. K. MILLER, ATLEE POMERENE. 

